Dog recovering after apparent deer attack

A Corte Madera family's Labrador retriever is back at home after a deer apparently attacked him, landing him in the veterinary clinic for three days with a paralyzed hind end.

It was around 1 a.m. Saturday morning when Mark Distler realized something traumatic had happened to his 6-year-old dog Casper.

"I heard a bark and then a second or two later I heard him scream," Distler said. He ran outside to see a buck scamper up the side of a hill next to his driveway. "I think the deer caught him and flipped him."

Tufts of white dog fur and scuffs from antler marks littered the pavement, where Casper was sprawled out in pain, unable to move his hind legs and bleeding where he'd been nicked. He was rushed to the veterinarian, where an MRI revealed surgery wouldn't help. Doctors concluded he had a herniated disc and a bruised spinal cord — likely from the impact of the buck hitting Casper with his antlers.

After more than $7,000 in treatment, Casper is back home on a regime of rest, five different prescription drugs and physical therapy. He's also wearing a flexible cone around his neck to keep him from licking his battle scars.

Distler said Casper was unable to move his tail or hind legs for the first two days, but the strength in his hind legs, especially his right hind leg, is coming back.

"His prognosis is good," Distler said. "The doctors are amazed at how fast his wounds have healed."

Casper is able to get around by dragging his hind legs behind him and scooting on his behind while he's in a sitting position. The happy-go-lucky canine still barks and pants excitedly whenever people visit him. His tennis ball-chasing days are likely over, but Distler said he, his wife and two children will continue to love the dog they've had since puppyhood.

No one knows exactly what made Casper a target for the buck, but Distler said it's typical to see about three to five bucks in the neighborhood. A month ago one of his daughters saw a big buck under the family's apple tree. The two startled each other and the buck began foaming at the mouth, causing the girl to run screaming.

Melanie Piazza, director of animal care at WildCare, said eating too many apples and apple tree leaves can elicit this foaminess. In regards to Casper's attack, she said it's out of character for a buck to be very territorial this time of year.

Piazza said bucks typically go into "rut" in the fall when they're ready to mate, becoming aggressive and competitive toward other males. She said it's possible mating season has come early and the dog was seen as a threat.

"If something is different with their food sources or the weather, it may be pushing that rut forward," Piazza said.

It's also possible that there are too many bucks in one area competing for limited food sources, causing them to be aggressive. Piazza said this could also be an incident where someone in the neighborhood has been trying to hand-feed the deer.

"They could then make the deer see them and a dog as competition," Piazza said.

The bizarre incident has spurred people to call the family, offering financial support to help pay for Casper's mounting bills. Distler said he's humbled by the generosity, but is fortunate enough to be able to afford to pay the tab. He said people can instead donate to animal care organizations.

From now on, Distler plans to stick by Casper's side whenever he goes outside.

"I'll be out there with him," Distler said. "I'll do what it takes to protect my family."